The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-12-13
FOR TEN YEARS
IN THE OHIO pENlrENrIARz.
Hnrper Convicted and Sentenced for Ills
Connection with tho Fidelity Bank
Bwlndlss-A Dramatic Scono In Court,
Grief Of tho Banker and His wife,

Connection with tho Fidelity Bank
| swIndlss-A Dramatic soene In Court.
| Grief Of tho Banker and His wife.
CINCINNATI, Dec. 12.-The greatest
crowd that has ever gathered In the corxl.
dora Of the United States Court room as.
assembled this morning long before the
time for the assembling Of the court.
It was simply impossible for ladies' to
got in at tho public door, and only thoae
who had irionds to chow them tho private
entrances could reach tho court room.
Alto o'clock Judge Sage appeared alone,
Judge Jackson having bsen called to hold
court In Covington. Court was opened,
and seven minutes later the jury filed in.
As eoou as they were seated Judge Sage
asked II they had agreed upon a verdict,
and tho foreman uaid they had. The
Judge directed tho clerk to-.racslye IT..
At this point Mr.. Blackburn called tho
Courts attention to tho absence OF the de-
fendant. us . i.
Lot him ba brought in," said the
Judge. .E IN d
10 two minutes Marshal Urner entorod,
followed by MIR. Harper, looking pale and
anxious. Behind him came hiR wife, her
laca study. It looked as IL she was up
borne by faith that In some way she WIS
to hear good news from tbs jury. Miss
Matthews followed as calm as she could
compose herself to be. When they were
seated the clerk took the sealed envelo pe
inclosing the verdict, tore 1t open and re ad
the fatal words: "We, the, jury, find the
defendant guilty as charged in the indict-
ment." This meant guilty. on all the
thirty.three counts left Tor the jury to act
upon. a1T
There was no outcry from either Of the
women. Mrs. Harper Bat rs If translxed,
but Miss Matthews found relief in toars
which she struggled with all her power to
repress.
Mr.. Blackburn moved an arrest Of
judgment, which tho Court instsntly
ovorrnled. Then District ATTORNEY Bar.
net moved for immediate sentence. and
that the sentence be cumulative.
THE eESTENcE.
Judge Sage, in somewhat lengthy
opinion, stated the result Of ais investipa.
tion on the question Of cumulative sen.
tencen in case like this, and gave some
relief to the suddenness OF the blow upon
Mr.. Harper's family. The Judge flnslIy
overruled the motion, and asked II The
defendant had anything to say before een.
tence Was pronounced upon him.
Mr.. Blackburn arose and said that the
defendant wished to speak through him,
and to cay that he had nothing to add to
what had been said, except to thank the
Court for its fair and i'm partial treatment,
and to ask that the Court ba as merciiul
as the circumstances and tho law would
permit.
At 1925 the Court directed Harper to
stand up. 1t was most distressing ecsue,
The strong man stood erect, with tasrs
CourHing down his cheek, but no other
aign OF emotion, ssve his blanched face,
Behind his chair With bowed head, eat his
wife in agony that had no bettor msni.
fessation than tho wringins Of her hands.
Tears did not come to her relief. Mrs.
| MattheWs, -tsr more demonstrating, still
repressed sobs, and il her own dists ess
reached over to try to comfort her sister
by touch. 50 they Eat, while the Court
with impressive aoiemnity recited the
usual form OF sentence, saying the eyi.
dence left no doubt OF the defendants
guilt and that the odense nerited the
highest penalty Of the lsH, which the
Court could now impose, ten years in
the Ohiopenitentiary and that the marshal
convey him thither at once. ,.--} -
Still no cutlery. Mr. Harper sat down,
turning to his vito. Their lips met; her
hands were around his neck, his arms on.
compussed her. The silence in the court
room wsg oppressive. Jurors wspt, men
and women all over the court room were
In tears.
The eilence wac brokon by Mr.. Black.
burn making last request from the Court,
namely, that the order for immediate im.
prisonment be suspended, giving as q roa-
son that there WAS much business to he
attended to by Mr.. Harper in which his
wife was closely concerned, and it would
be exceedingly difficult to attend to it un-
ess Mr.. Harper could remain here for a
fow days.
But the Court was relentless. Judge
Sage said there would be opportunity ior
Harpsr's wife to 200 him in Columbus.
and he repeated bis order to tho Marshai
to convey him thither to-day.
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